[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Military Power, Battle for Developing Lithium Batteries for Submarines

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As Russia and China have agreed to jointly design next-generation submarines, attention is focusing on China's technological capabilities. Although Russia, traditionally considered a submarine powerhouse, has no reason to co-design with China, some believe that Russia has no choice but to leverage China's strength in air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems and lithium battery technology, which powers diesel submarines.

Ria Novosti news agency reported on the 25th of last month, citing a source from the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), that "We are jointly designing a next-generation non-nuclear submarine with the Chinese side," adding, "(Since it is in the early stages) it is too soon to say when it will be completed."

To upgrade diesel submarines into next-generation submarines, equipping them with AIP is considered essential. Especially, if equipped with an anaerobic power plant (VNEU), the submarine does not need to surface for recharging like diesel submarines, and it also eliminates the significant noise generated during the reactor cooling process in nuclear submarines. Lithium batteries use lithium for the anode plate and have a significantly longer lifespan compared to lead, manganese, or mercury batteries. Equipping submarines with lithium batteries greatly improves energy density, battery life, submerged endurance, and maintenance convenience compared to existing lead-acid battery systems.

U.S. submarine expert H.I. Sutton wrote in Forbes, "China is currently ahead of Russia in the field of air-independent propulsion (AIP)," adding, "Russia has yet to equip its Lada-class diesel submarines, operated by its own military, with AIP."

The Republic of Korea Navy also plans to apply a domestically produced lithium battery system for the first time in its next-generation submarines. The military has determined that the lithium battery system is suitable as the main power supply system for the Jangbogo-III 'Batch-II' and has decided to establish a foundation for full-scale development. Samsung SDI will develop the lithium battery cells, Hanwha Defense will integrate the entire system, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering will install this system on the submarines.

Three Jangbogo-III 'Batch-II' submarines will be constructed between 2025 and 2027. Previously, three Jangbogo-III 'Batch-I' submarines, built from 2020 to 2024, will use the lead-acid battery system currently installed in our military submarines, not the lithium battery system. The lithium battery system had not been developed when the 'Batch-I' construction plan was established.

Currently, major countries worldwide regard lithium batteries as the next-generation growth engine and are competitively investing in related technologies. South Korea is leading in lithium battery technology for large-capacity energy storage systems (ESS), including electric vehicle batteries. Lithium batteries, a type of secondary battery, can be recharged and reused, unlike primary batteries which are disposable.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.